Wilbur was killed while serving on an LST-376 that was torpedoed by the Germans.
Fully loaded with vehicles, supplies, munitions and stores, LST-376 stood out of English waters on the night of June 8th, 1944 and transited the English Channel under the cover of darkness. As she and her column of LST's approached the landing area at daybreak on June 9th, reports were flashed to all stations that German torpedo boats, or E-boats, were active in the area and attacking US ships in the anchorage. Within seconds, a group of the fast-moving craft were spotted moving Southeast and away from the LST-376's formation having already launched a salvo of torpedoes, and within seconds a LST anchored ahead of her was struck with a torpedo and moments later LST-376 shared the same fate.
Impacted in her Stern the LST immediately lost headway and steerage as her propellers and rudders were carried away by the torpedo’s detonation and the gaping holes left in her hull plating began to flood her engine room. Damage control teams worked feverishly alongside her engineers to keep her twin diesels running and providing the ship's pumps with power while topside crews prepared her cargo of amphibious vehicles to be discharged in order to lighten the ships load as well as save their crews and cargo.
Screened by several Minesweepers, LST-376's crew successfully emptied her holds of almost all of her cargo while her engine and damage control crews fought to keep their ship afloat, but by 1100hrs it was clear the Veteran ship was losing her battle with the sea. After removing all remaining ammunition and whatever other vital cargo remained onboard onto lighters and landing craft, the LST-376's crew struck her colors and abandoned ship as Stern began to go awash. Now a hazard to navigation, the LST-376 was taken under fire by US ships until she flooded and sank at this location on June 9th, 1944.
Thanks to contributor Frogman (#47380828) for the above detailed description of LST-376.
Fully loaded with vehicles, supplies, munitions and stores, LST-376 stood out of English waters on the night of June 8th, 1944 and transited the English Channel under the cover of darkness. As she and her column of LST's approached the landing area at daybreak on June 9th, reports were flashed to all stations that German torpedo boats, or E-boats, were active in the area and attacking US ships in the anchorage. Within seconds, a group of the fast-moving craft were spotted moving Southeast and away from the LST-376's formation having already launched a salvo of torpedoes, and within seconds a LST anchored ahead of her was struck with a torpedo and moments later LST-376 shared the same fate.
Impacted in her Stern the LST immediately lost headway and steerage as her propellers and rudders were carried away by the torpedo’s detonation and the gaping holes left in her hull plating began to flood her engine room. Damage control teams worked feverishly alongside her engineers to keep her twin diesels running and providing the ship's pumps with power while topside crews prepared her cargo of amphibious vehicles to be discharged in order to lighten the ships load as well as save their crews and cargo.
Screened by several Minesweepers, LST-376's crew successfully emptied her holds of almost all of her cargo while her engine and damage control crews fought to keep their ship afloat, but by 1100hrs it was clear the Veteran ship was losing her battle with the sea. After removing all remaining ammunition and whatever other vital cargo remained onboard onto lighters and landing craft, the LST-376's crew struck her colors and abandoned ship as Stern began to go awash. Now a hazard to navigation, the LST-376 was taken under fire by US ships until she flooded and sank at this location on June 9th, 1944.
Thanks to contributor Frogman (#47380828) for the above detailed description of LST-376.
Wilbur was killed while serving on an LST-376 that was torpedoed by the Germans.
Fully loaded with vehicles, supplies, munitions and stores, LST-376 stood out of English waters on the night of June 8th, 1944 and transited the English Channel under the cover of darkness. As she and her column of LST's approached the landing area at daybreak on June 9th, reports were flashed to all stations that German torpedo boats, or E-boats, were active in the area and attacking US ships in the anchorage. Within seconds, a group of the fast-moving craft were spotted moving Southeast and away from the LST-376's formation having already launched a salvo of torpedoes, and within seconds a LST anchored ahead of her was struck with a torpedo and moments later LST-376 shared the same fate.
Impacted in her Stern the LST immediately lost headway and steerage as her propellers and rudders were carried away by the torpedo’s detonation and the gaping holes left in her hull plating began to flood her engine room. Damage control teams worked feverishly alongside her engineers to keep her twin diesels running and providing the ship's pumps with power while topside crews prepared her cargo of amphibious vehicles to be discharged in order to lighten the ships load as well as save their crews and cargo.
Screened by several Minesweepers, LST-376's crew successfully emptied her holds of almost all of her cargo while her engine and damage control crews fought to keep their ship afloat, but by 1100hrs it was clear the Veteran ship was losing her battle with the sea. After removing all remaining ammunition and whatever other vital cargo remained onboard onto lighters and landing craft, the LST-376's crew struck her colors and abandoned ship as Stern began to go awash. Now a hazard to navigation, the LST-376 was taken under fire by US ships until she flooded and sank at this location on June 9th, 1944.
Thanks to contributor Frogman (#47380828) for the above detailed description of LST-376.
Fully loaded with vehicles, supplies, munitions and stores, LST-376 stood out of English waters on the night of June 8th, 1944 and transited the English Channel under the cover of darkness. As she and her column of LST's approached the landing area at daybreak on June 9th, reports were flashed to all stations that German torpedo boats, or E-boats, were active in the area and attacking US ships in the anchorage. Within seconds, a group of the fast-moving craft were spotted moving Southeast and away from the LST-376's formation having already launched a salvo of torpedoes, and within seconds a LST anchored ahead of her was struck with a torpedo and moments later LST-376 shared the same fate.
Impacted in her Stern the LST immediately lost headway and steerage as her propellers and rudders were carried away by the torpedo’s detonation and the gaping holes left in her hull plating began to flood her engine room. Damage control teams worked feverishly alongside her engineers to keep her twin diesels running and providing the ship's pumps with power while topside crews prepared her cargo of amphibious vehicles to be discharged in order to lighten the ships load as well as save their crews and cargo.
Screened by several Minesweepers, LST-376's crew successfully emptied her holds of almost all of her cargo while her engine and damage control crews fought to keep their ship afloat, but by 1100hrs it was clear the Veteran ship was losing her battle with the sea. After removing all remaining ammunition and whatever other vital cargo remained onboard onto lighters and landing craft, the LST-376's crew struck her colors and abandoned ship as Stern began to go awash. Now a hazard to navigation, the LST-376 was taken under fire by US ships until she flooded and sank at this location on June 9th, 1944.
Thanks to contributor Frogman (#47380828) for the above detailed description of LST-376.
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Pennsylvania.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
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